Wire crimping device for asphalt paving



Feb. 24, 1970 c. R. SATTERWHITE 3,496,968

WIRE CRIMPING DEVICE FOR ASPHALT PAVING Filed Aug. 20, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 imm INVENTOR. Charles R. Sotrerwhne E w T J .9 ma 3 ATTORNEY 1970 c. R. SATTERWHITE 3,

WIRE CRIMPING DEVICE FOR ASPHALT PAVING Filed Aug. 20, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 I a I 45 H24 If H 44 50 I33 i v2 [A1 102 FJ 3 INVENTOR. @9 Charles R.S0Herwhi1e ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1970 c. R. SATTERWHITE 3,496,968

WIRE CRIMPING DEVICE FOR ASPHALT PAVING Filed Aug. 20, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 3 c horles R. Sofierwhite WEJNM ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,496,968 WIRE CRIMPING DEVICE FOR ASPHALT PAVING Charles R. Satterwhite, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Satterwhite & Bagwell, Dallas, Tex., a partnership Filed Aug. 20, 1968, Ser. No. 754,080 Int. Cl. B-21f 33/00 US. Cl. 140-105 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for crimping individual strands of wire mesh used in asphalt paving operations to flatten and smooth the wire and to form expansion joints.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Wire mesh re-enforcing material is used in asphalt paving. A large roll approximately 12 /2 feet wide containing about 300 feet of wire mesh is placed on the back of a truck which may be driven down the roadway feeding out the wire from the rear of the truck.

The term crimp as used herein means bending wire transversely to the length thereof forming olfset portions in the wire which act as a spring.

It is necessary to crimp the Wire to allow for thermal expansion and also to stretch the wire to eliminate Waves due to irregularities in the wire mesh. The wire mesh normally has about 50 strands of wire running longitudinally along the road surface on approximately three inch centers and has wires running across the roadway spaced at about six inch centers. Heretofore, the crimping of the wire has been accomplished by hand and required a large labor force.

The crimping of the wire by hand was very slow and tedious process since it is desirable that the wire be crimped about every eight feet along the length of the roadway. Under normal operating conditions, approximately five man hours was required to crimp 300 feet of wire meshmanually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have developed an improved device for crimping wire mesh which is capable of placing transverse crimps in wire mesh, requiring approximately three seconds, which heretofore required approximately seven minutes to perform the same operation manually.

The embodiment of the invention shown herein consists of first and second crossarms having upwardly extending crimp bars or pins positionable between individual strands of wire. One of the crossarms is adapted to move longitudinally with respect to the other crossarm, thereby causing the crimp bars to form crirnps in the Wire mesh.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a wire crimping device which is capable of performing crimping operations quickly and easily.

It is another object of the invention to provide a wire crimping device which may be operated by one man.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire crimping device with hydraulically operated means for simultaneously crimping individual wires across the width of a strip of wire mesh.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire crimping device which is self-propelled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire crimping device which may be incorporated into conventional equipment utilized in the manufacture of wire mesh wherein individual strands of wire may be crimped during the manufacturing process.

3,496,968 Patented Feb. 24, 1970 The accompanying drawings of tWo embodiments of the present invention are provided so that the invention may be better and more fully understood, in which:

FIGURE I is a plan view of the wire crimping device shown in relation to wire mesh as it is being dispensed;

FIGURE II is a side elevational view of the wire crimping device;

FIGURE III is a side elevational view of the wire crimping device taken from the opposite side of FIG- URE II;

FIGURE IV is an enlarged plan view with parts broken away of a brake utilized in the wire crimping device;

FIGURE V is an enlarged perspective view with parts broken away of the steering mechanism utilized in the wire crimping device;

FIGURE VI is a cross sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIGURE I with the crimp bars and the wire elevating mechanism in the position which they occupy as the wire crimping device is being propelled along the roadway;

FIGURE VII is a cross sectional view taken along lines VIVI of FIGURE I with the crimp bars and wire elevating mechanism in the position which they occupy as wire is being crimped;

FIGURE VIII is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the crimp bars in the position illustrated in FIG- URE VI;

FIGURE IX is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of crimp bars in the position in which they occupy in FIG- URE VII;

FIGURE X is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system utilized in the first embodiment of the wire crimping device;

FIGURE XI is a plan view of a second embodiment of the wire crimping device shown in relation to conventional equipment utilized in manufacturing Wire mesh; and

FIGURE XII is a side elevational view of the second embodiment of the wire crimping device.

Numeral references are employed to indicate the various parts as shown in the drawing and like numerals indicate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to the embodiment shown in FIGURES I through X of the drawing, the numeral 1 generally designates a wire crimping device positioned under a strip of wire mesh 2.

Wire mesh 2 consists of longitudinal strands 3 welded or otherwise rigidly connected to transverse strands 4. Wire mesh 2 is normally supplied to the user in a roll 5 adapted to be mounted on a dispenser 6 connected to the rear of a truck 8 whereby wire mesh 2 will be dispensed as truck 8 is driven along the roadway.

Wire crimping device 1 consists of a fixed crossarm 10 welded or otherwise rigidly connected to spaced parallel bottom rails 12 and 14.

Links 16 have the opposite ends thereof pivotally secured by pins 18 to fixed crossarm 10 and movable crossarm 20 whereby movable crossarm 20 may move longitudinally relative to fixed crossarm 10. Each crossarm 10 and 20 has crimp pins 22 rigidly connected thereto in 3 spaced apart relation extending upwardly from said crossarms and 20.

A hydraulic cylinder 24 is pivotally connected to crossarm 10 by a pin 26 and has a hydraulically operated piston rod 28 extending outwardly from one end thereof.

While cross arm 10 and 20 may be of any suitable structural configuration and constructed of any suitable material depending upon the structural strength requirements thereof, the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawing, FIGURES VI and VII, incorporates an angle bar for fixed crossarm 10 and a flat bar for movable crossarm 20.

An elongated slot 30 is formed in the downwardly extending web portion 11 of fixed crossarm 10. An actuating lever 32 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to movable crossarm 20 and extends through slot 30 in fixed crossarm 10. Piston rod 28 is pivotally connected by a pin 34 to actuating lever 32 whereby movement of said piston rod 28 imparts movement to movable cross arm 20.

Fixed arm 10 has a channel member 36 welded OI otherwise rigidly connected to each end thereof. Channel member 36 is closed at one end by a plate 38.

Wire elevator mechanism 40 consists of a bar 42 extending transversely across wire crimping device 1 in spaced apart parallel relation to arms 10 and 20. Bar 42 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to one end of pivotal links 44 and 44a. The other end of links 44 and 44a are connected through a bolt 46 and spacer 48 to plate 38 rigidly connected to fixed arm 10.

Pivotal link 44a on the operator side of the wire crimping device 1 is pivotally connected to one end of link 50 through pivot pin 52, FIGURES II and III. The other end of link 50 is pivotally connected through pivot pin 54 to the lower end of elevator lever 56, which is pivotally connected by a pin 58 intermediate the opposite ends thereof to a lug 60 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the frame of the wire crimping device.

Each bottom rail 12 and 14 has a cutaway portion 62 in which bar 42 of elevator mechanism 40 is cradled when the elevator mechanism is in the lowered position, best illustrated in FIGURE VII.

Bar 42 of elevator mechanism 40 has a plate 64 welded or otherwise rigidly connected thereto adjacent opposite ends thereof for maintaining wire mesh 2 on bar 42, preventing wire 2 from slipping off the end of bar 42.

Wire elevator mechanism 40 occupys the position illustrated in FIGURE VI of the drawing to hold wire 2 above crimp pins 22 when the wire crimping device is being moved down the roadway. Wire 2 slides over bar 42 when the wire crimping device is being moved.

When a crimping operation is to be performed, wire elevator mechanism 40 is lowered to the position illustrated in FIGURE VII of the drawing, causing wire 2 to fall downwardly over crimp pins 22, said crimp pins 22 being spaced between longitudinal wires 3.

Referring to FIGURE II, it should be readily apparent that elevator mechanism 40 may be positioned by applying force to elevator lever 56 causing said lever to pivot about pivot pin 56 thereby exerting a force through link 50 to pivot links 44 and 44a about pivot pins 46.

Axle 66 extends transversely across wire crimping device 1 and is rotatably journaled adjacent opposite ends thereof in bearing blocks 68 rigidly connected to bottom rails 12 and 14. Drive wheels 70 are rigidly connected to axle 66 and are in rolling frictional contact with the surface 72 over which wire crimping device is moved.

A sprocket 74 is rigidly connected to axle 66 and is driven by chain 76 as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

A brake 78 is provided, allowing wire crimping device 1 to be stopped on a steep grade without rolling downhill. Any suitable brake may be utilized. However, a suitable embodiment, FIGURE IV, includes a disc 80 rigidly connected to hub 82 which is in turn rigidly connected to drive axle 66. Bars 84 are pivotally mounted in spaced apart relation on bracket 86 which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to bottom rail 12. A screw 90, having right and left handed threads thereon, threadedly engages one end of bars 84 and has a handle 92 thereon. Brake lining 94, or other suitable friction material is disposed on the opposite ends of bars 84 with disc positioned therebetween.

It should be readily apparent that rotation of axle 66 may be regulated by rotating screw 90, causing bars 84 to pivot about pins 88 to engage or disengage disc 80 with brake lining 94.

To facilitate driving wire crimping device 1 along a roadway, it is desirable that suitable steering mechanism be provided allowing the operator to drive the wire crimping device over a desired path.

Suitable steering means includes spaced parallel wheels 96 rotatably journaled on stub shafts 98 which are rigidly connected to steering suspension members 100. Steering suspension members 100 are pivotally connected by a pin 102 to bottom rails 12 and 14. Spaced steering wheels 96 are maintained in parallel relation by a tie rod 104 pivotally connected to steering suspension members 100 by pins 105.

A bell crank 106 is pivotally connected to a bracket 108 welded or otherwise rigidly connected to the frame of the wire crimping device by a pin 110. One end of bell crank 106 is pivotally connected through pin 112 to tie rod 104. An adjustable connecting rod 114 having rod eyes 115 on opposite ends thereof is pivotally connected through pin 116 to bell crank 106. The other end of connecting rod 114 is connected by a pin 116a to the lower end of steering lever 118. Steering lever 118 is pivoted intermediate the opposite ends thereof by a pin 120 to a plate 122, having an arcuate surface with spaced teeth 123 extending outwardly therefrom.

Steering lever 118 has a detent or pawl 124 slidably disposed thereon mechanically connected by a rod 126 to handle 128 pivotally connected by pin 132 to an upper portion of steering lever 118. Steering lever 118 is locked, preventing movement thereof, when detent 124 is positioned between teeth 123 on plate 122. Detent 124 is normally held in the locked position by a spring 130 positioned between handle 128 and steering lever 118.

Referring to FIGURE V, it should be readily apparent that force exerted by spring 130 urges handle 128 away from steering lever 118, thereby causing said handle to pivot about pin 132 urging detent 124 downwardly between teeth 123.

It should also be apparent in FIGURES I and V of the drawing that application of a force on handle 128 will disengage detent 124 from teeth 123 on plate 122, allowing steering lever 118 to pivot about pin 120, thereby imparting motion through connecting rod 114 to hell crank 106 and consequently to tie rod 104. Movement of steering lever 118 causes parallel steering wheels 96 to pivot about pins 102 thereby changing the direction of travel of the wire crimping device 1.

Bumper members 133 are rigidly connected to the forward ends of steering suspension members 100, FIGURES I and VII, to hold wire 2 in a raised position above steering wheels 96 and steering suspension members 100 to eliminate the possibility that the wire 2 might become entangled with the steering mechanism.

Any suitable prime mover may be utilized for providing power to drive wheels 70 and hydraulic cylinder 24. However, the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawing incorporates an internal combustion engine 134 having a fuel tank 136 and a shaft 138.

A pulley 140 is rigidly connected to shaft 138 of engine 134 and has a belt 142 carried thereon.

A hydraulic pump 144 has a pulley 146 rigidly connected to shaft 148 which is in turn connected to vanes (not shown) in pump 144. Belt 142 drivingly engages pulley 146 whereby power from engine 134 is transmitted through belt 142 to drive pump 144.

Referring to FIGURE X of the drawing, the outlet or high pressure side of hydraulic pump 144 is connected through conduit 150 to a pressure gauge 152 and to conduit 154, connected to branch lines 156 and 158, for delivering high pressure hydraulic fluid to passages in valves 160 and 162, respectively.

Valves 160 and 162 are of conventional design.

The suction or low pressure side of hydraulic pump 144 is connected through conduit 164 to reservoir 166.

Each valve 160 and 162 has a return line 168 and 170 respectively allowing hydraulic fluid to be circulated through valves 160 and 162 back to reservoir 166.

Conduits 172 and 174 connect valve 160 with hydraulic motor 176.

Conduits 178 and 180 connect valve 162 with hydraulic cylinder 24.

Passages through valve 160 are arranged to route hydraulic fluid from pump 144 through line 156 to line 172, through hydraulic motor 176 and line 174, through return line 168 to reservoir 166. Hydraulic motor 176 has a shaft 182 having a sprockets 184 rigidly connected thereto, FIGURE II. Chain 76 is carried by sprockets 184 and sprocket 74 rigidly connected to axle 66.

Hydraulic fluid from pump 144 passes through conduit 172 to rotate shaft 182 of motor 176 thereby imparting rotation to axle 66 and drive wheels 70 to move wire crimping device 1 in a forward direction.

Hydraulic motor 176 may be driven in a reverse direction by routing hydraulic fluid through valve 160 through line 174 through motor 176, line 172, return line 168 to reservoir 166.

Motor 176 may be maintained in a neutral position by routing hydraulic fluid through valve 160 from line 156 directly to return line 168, thereby bypassing motor 176.

Valve 162 is utilized for routing hydraulic fluid to cylinder 24, pivotally connecting crossarms and 20. Passages in valve 172 are adapted to route hydraulic fluid through line 180 to extend piston rod 28, or to route hydraulic fluid through conduit 178 to retract piston rod 28.

A seat 186 is mounted on supports 187 connected to frame 188 of wire crimping device 1. A foot rest 189 is also rigidly connected to the frame.

Preferably valves 160 and 162, steering lever 118 and wire elevating lever 56 are positioned to be easily accessible to an operator sitting in seat 186 allowing an operator to control the wire crimping device.

Turning next to a description of the operation of the first described embodiment in order that the construction thereof may be more fully understood, reference is again made to FIGURE I of the drawing.

The usual method employed in road construction is to pour a concrete pavement after the base and subcourse have been prepared. A bituminous surface on the concrete makes the surfaces impervious, reduces abrasion, and improves traction when the surface is wet.

The bituminous is applied by laying a thin layer of bituminous material, such as asphalt, on the concrete surface. Reinforcing material such as wire mesh is then positioned over the bituminous layer. At least one, and usually two, additional layers of bituminous material are placed over the reinforcing material.

Wire mesh 2 is dispensed from a truck 8 onto the surface to be paved. The wire crimping device is positioned under the wire mesh 2 with wire elevator device 40 being in the raised position thereby holdng the wire above crimp pins 22.

Utilizing valve 160 the operator routes hydraulic fluid to hydraulic motor 176, causing power to be transmitted through chain 76, to drive wheels 70 to move the wire crimping device along the roadway.

To crimp wire mesh 2, valve 160 is utilized for stopping the wire crimping device 1. Elevator lever 56 is pulled rearwardly causing bar 42 of elevator mechanism 40 to be cradled in cutaway portions 62 of bottom rails 12 and 14, thereby positioning longitudinal strands 3 of wire mesh 2 between crimp pins 2.

It should be noted that if longitudinal strands 3 fall on the upper ends of crimp pins 22, the crossarms 10 and 20 may be jogged laterally relative to the wire mesh 2 by moving steering lever 118.

Valve 162 is manipulated to route hydaulic fluid through line 180 to extend piston rod 28, thereby moving the movable crossarm 20 to the position illustrated in FIGURE IX of the drawing, thereby crimping the longitidunal strands 3 of wire 2, forming a row 9 of crimps across the strip of wire mesh 2.

Movable crossarm 20 is returned to its normal position by routing hydraulic fluid through valve 162, conduit 178 to cylinder 24 causing piston rod 28 to be retracted.

To allow crimping device 1 to be moved down the roadway, elevator lever 56 is pushed forward causing elevator mechanism 40 to disengage wire 2 from crimp pins 22, best illustrated in FIGURES II and VI.

Gripping handle 128, and pushing forward on steering lever 118, causes wheels 96 to turn to the right. Moving steering lever 118 rearwardly causes wheels 96 to turn to the left.

Brake 78, connected to axle 66, is utilized for exerting frictional force to prevent wire crimping device 1 from rolling downhill when valve is placed in the neutral position. Brake 76 will be adjusted depending upon the grade over which wire crimping device 1 is to be moved.

DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND EMBODIMENT The second embodiment of invention is illustrated in FIGURES XI and XII of the drawing.

A second embodiment of the wire crimping device 200 is shown schematically in relation with conventional equipment such as rollers 3a, 3b, and 30, for controlling movement of longitudinal strands 3 of wire and roller 4a for controlling transverse strands 4 of wire utilized for forming individual strands 3 and 4 into wire mesh 2.

Wire crimping device 200 is positioned adjacent the line of travel of the finished wire mesh 2 allowing the wire to be crimped periodically before it is placed on a roll to be delivered to the user.

Wire crimping device 200 consists of a fixed crossarm 210 connected through pivot links 216 to movable crossarm 220. Crimp pins 222 extend upwardly from crossarms 210 and 220.

An actuating link 232 is rigidly connected to movable crossarm 220 and is pivotally connected to hydraulic cylinder 224, pivotally connected to fixed link 210. Extension of piston rod 228 of hydraulic cylinder 224 imparts longitudinal movement to moveable arm 220 relative to fixed arm 210 as hereinbefore explained in a description of the first embodiment.

Fixed arm 210 and moveable arm 220 are carried by a general frame 201 connected to piston rods 202 of hydraulic cylinders 204.

A push buttom switch 206 is rigidly connected to frame 201 and has a sensing rod 208 connected thereto. Switch 206 is connected to any suitable electrically actuated de vice such as a conventional solenoid (not shown) for controlling a valve similar to valve 162 described in the description of the first embodiment for delivering hydraulic fluid to cylinder 224 when a downward force is exerted upon sensing rod 208.

Th operation of the second embodiment of the inven tion is similar to that hereinbefore described with respect to the first embodiment. However, instead of moving crossarms 210 and 220 relative to the wire in a longitudinal direction, the wire is moved in a longitudinal direction relative to crossarms 210 and 220. Hydraulic fluid is delivered to ports 204a'of hydraulic cylinders 204, causing piston rods 202 thereof to be extended.

Extension of piston rods 202 of cylinders 204 causes frame 201 and wire crimping device 200 to be elevated until sensing rod 208 contacts longitudinal strands 3 of wire 2, causing switch 206 to be closed. Closing switch 206 causes hydraulic fluid to be routed to hydraulically operated cylinder 224, thereby moving moveable arm 220 realtive to fixed arm 210 to form a row 209 of crimps in wire mesh 2. After the crimping operation has been performed hydraulic fluid is drained from ports 204a of hydraulic cylinder 204, causing wire crimping device 200 to be lowered to position shown in FIGURE XII of the drawing.

Hydraulic fluid may be supplied to cylinders 204 manually or according to a timed program wherein wire 2 will be crimped at spaced intervals along the length thereof.

From the foregoing it should be readily apparent that I have developed an improved wire crimping device adaptable for use for crimping wire as it is being laid by the user, and also adaptable for use for crimping wire during the manufacturing process before the wire is delivered to the user.

The improved wire crimping device is very simple to construct and operate and allows one man to perform crimping operations in approximately three seconds which has heretofore required approximately seven minutes to be performed manually.

It will be understood that other and further embodiments of my invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described by invention, I claim:

1. In a device for crimping wire mesh, a general frame; means on the general frame for causing relative movement between the general frame and the wire mesh; a transversely disposed first arm on said frame; a second arm transversely disposed on the frame adjacent and parallel to the first arm; spaced oppositely disposed pairs of crimp pins secured to the arms and extending outwardly thereof; said crimp pins being so spaced that oppositely disposed pairs may extend through openings in wire mesh placed thereover; means for positioning the pins through the openings in the wire mesh such that the first arm and the second arm remain on the same side of the wire mesh; and means operably connected to the second arm to move same laterally to thereby move the pins thereon laterally with respect to the pins on the first arm to crimp the wire mesh.

2. In a device for crimping wire mesh, a general frame; means for moving the general frame horizontally relative to wire mesh placed thereover; a transversely disposed arm fixed to said frame; a movable arm transversely disposed on the frame adjacent and parallel to the fixed arm; spaced oppositely disposed pairs of crimp pins secured to the arms and extending outwardly thereof; said crimp pins being so spaced that oppositely disposed pairs may extend through openings in wire mesh placed thereover; and means operably connected to the movable arm to move same laterally to thereby move the pins thereon laterally with respect to the pins on the fixed arm to crimp the wire mesh.

3. In a device for crimping wire mesh, a general frame; a transversely disposed arm fixed to said frame; a movable arm transversely disposed on the frame adjacent and parallel to the fixed arm; spaced oppositely disposed pairs of crimp pins secured to the arms and extending outwardly thereof; said crimp pins being so spaced that oppositely disposed pairs may extend through openings in wire mesh placed thereover; means for positioning the pins through the openings in the wire mesh including, at least one transversely disposed bar pivotally mounted on the general frame in spaced apart relation from the fixed and movable arms, and means connected between the frame and the bar for pivotally moving the bar vertically; and means operably connected to the movable arm to move same laterally to thereby move the pins thereon internally with respect to the pins on the fixed arm to crimp the wire mesh.

4. The combination called for in claim 3 wherein the means for moving the bar vertically includes links pivotally connected at each end of the bar between the frame and the bar whereby the bar may be raised or lowered by pivoting the links, and a handle operably connected to one of the links to rotate same.

5. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein the arms are joined by a pivoted link to maintain same in parallel relationship.

6. The combination called for in claim 3 with the addition of guide means at each end of said bar engageable with the edges of the wire mesh for maintaining the wire mesh on the bar when raised out of engagement with the pins.

7. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein the means for moving the moveable arm transversely is a hydraulic cylinder, an extendable piston rod therein, and a source of pressurized fluid connected to the cylinder for extension of the rod.

8. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein the means for moving the general frame horizontally relative to the wire mesh includes spaced drive wheels at one end of the frame; a source of power connected to the drive wheels; spaced steering wheels at the other end of the frame; and means for moving the steering wheels relative to the general frame.

9. The combination called for in claim 8 wherein the means for moving the steering wheels includes, a steering lever pivotally connected intermediate the opposite ends thereof to the general frame; a connecting rod pivotally connected to the connecting rod, and a tie rod connected to the bell crank pivotally connected to the steering wheels whereby actuation of the steering lever causes the steering wheels to turn.

10. In a device for crimping wire mesh, a general frame; a second frame movable upwardly with respect to the general frame; a transversely disposed arm fixed to said second frame; a movable arm transversely disposed on the second frame adjacent and parallel to the fixed arm; means to move the arms upwardly with respect to the general frame; spaced oppositely disposed pairs of crimp pins secured to the arms and extending outwardly thereof; said crimp pins being so spaced that oppositely disposed pairs may extend through openings in wire mesh placed thereover; and means operably connected to the movable arm to move same laterally to thereby move the pins thereon laterally with respect to the pins on the fixed arm to crimp the wire mesh.

11. In a device for crimping wire mesh, a general frame; a transversely disposed arm on said frame; a movable arm transversely disposed on the frame adjacent and parallel to the fixed arm; spaced oppositely disposed pairs of crimp pins secured to the arms and extending outwardly thereof; said crimp pins being so spaced that oppositely disposed pairs may extend through openings in wire mesh placed thereover; at least one hydraulic cylinder having an extendable piston rod mounted therein, between the arms and the frame, whereby actuation of said hydraulic cylinder extends the piston rod to raise the arms to extend the crimp pins through openings in wire mesh disposed thereover; and means operably connected to the movable arm to move same laterally to thereby move the pins thereon laterally with respect to the pins on the fixed arm to crimp the wire mesh.

12. A method of paving a roadbed with bituminous material comprising, continuously placing reinforcing wire mesh over the roadbed, said wire mesh being constructed of longitudinally and transversely extending strands of wire; transversely crimping each of the longitudinal strands 9 of the wire mesh simultaneously to form a transverse row of crimps across the wire mesh; and placing a layer of bituminous material over the wire mesh.

13. A wire mesh crimping device comprising a frame, transversely disposed arms mounted on the frame, said arms being transversely movable with reference to each other; spaced crimp pins extending outwardly of the arms, said crimp pins being so arranged and spaced that opposed pairs of same are arranged to pass through openings in the mesh; means for positioning the pins through open- 10 ings in the wire mesh such that each transversely disposed arm remains on the same side of the wire mesh; and

means to move at least one of the arms transversely relative to the other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LOWELL A. LARSON, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 9439; 140-107 P0405) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION patent 3,496,968 Dated February 24, 1970 Charles R. Satterwhite It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 8, line 3, "internally" should read laterally Column 8, line 36, before "connecting rod" insert lower end of the steering lever; a bell crank pivotally connected to the SIGNED MD SEALED JIIL 14m (SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, In Attesting Officer 308m m 

